29.09.2003 AUTODELTA DRAFT IN JAMES THOMPSON FOR CLOSING ETCC RACES

Alfa Romeo will enter a fourth works car in both the final FIA ETCC meeting in Estoril and Monza, for James Thompson. A few hours after SEAT Sport announced they hired the new BTCC champion Yvan Muller, Alfa Romeo answered by signing his runner-up to support Autodelta regular drivers Gabriele Tarquini, Nicola Larini and Roberto Colciago in the fight for the European crown.

Thompson, 29-year old Englishman from York, is another top-gun of international Touring Car racing. Last year he won the British Touring Car Championship title for Vauxhall, and in the current season he finished second behind his team-mate Muller. In 2001 Thompson was already hired to support his friend Tarquini on the occasion of the FIA ETCC final meeting in Estoril. At the time, they both were racing for Honda, however they failed to beat the Alfa Romeo armada formed by Giovanardi (who claimed the title), Muller (who won the first race) and Larini.

Now they will be fighting to help Alfa against BMW. “I’m very happy to have James at my side,” Tarquini said. “And I hope we will be able to repeat the same results as in 2001 and make Alfa Romeo champions!”